EXCLUSIVE: Valiant Launches Pullbox Variant Program

In a show of support for comic book stores, Valiant Comics today announced a new initiative geared towards increasing the bond between retailers and customers with the Pullbox Exclusive Variant program. CBR News has the exclusive first word about the program, along with a look at new pages from Robert Venditti and Cary Nord's first chapter of the relaunched "X-O Manowar."

Kicking off the program on May 2 with an "X-O Manowar" #1 Pullbox Exclusive Variant featuring a cover by Nord, Valiant explains that all fans have to do to get their hands on this and future variants is to open a pullbox subscription with their local comic store and fill out a form requesting the limited edition cover. Retailers will be able to register with Valiant to request the appropriate number of Pullbox Variants whenever the incentive is offered.

For more details on the Pullbox Exclusive Variant program, and to print a copy of the form for yourself, check out the full press release below.

Official Press Release

Valiant is proud to announce the X-O Manowar #1 Pullbox Exclusive Variant by superstar artist Cary Nord -- the first in a new program of exclusive covers designed to encourage fans to open pull lists at their local comic shop and reward long-term pull list subscribers who pre-order Valiant's new number one issues. Featuring the only X-O Manowar cover by interior artist and Eisner Award-winner Cary Nord, the X-O Manowar #1 Pullbox Exclusive Variant is exclusively available only to comic book store pull list subscribers and box holders.

"We're committed to getting as many fans of Valiant's original incarnation as possible back into brick-and-mortar comic shops on May 2nd for X-O Manowar #1," said Publisher Fred Pierce. "There are many lapsed readers out there who haven't visited a store regularly for years, and this limited edition cover is a great way to incentivize the act of opening a pull list subscription with your local retailer. On top of that, it's also a perfect opportunity to get a look at the stunning work Cary Nord is delivering with X-O Manowar."

"One of the challenges that comics retailers face every month is how to order new titles," added Sales Manager Atom! Freeman. "With the Pullbox Variant program, we're encouraging fans to let their retailers know ahead of time that they plan on following X-O Manowar monthly and give retailers an extra-added reason to promote the launch of the Valiant line in their stores."

Valiant will also be shipping in-store request forms for the Pullbox Variant program to retailers during their March ordering period, and making downloadable versions of the same forms available on both the public and retailers section of the Valiant website. Please visit ValiantUniverse.com to register your store for access today!

Valiant Entertainment is a character-based publishing and licensing company that owns and controls some of the most cherished comic characters ever created across all media worldwide. Since their creation in 1989, Valiant characters have sold 80 million comic books and have been the basis of a number of successful video game franchises. Valiant's extensive library includes over 1,500 characters, such as X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger,Shadowman, Ninjak and Archer & Armstrong. Visit:ValiantUniverse.comwww.facebook.com/ValiantComicswww.twitter.com/ValiantComics